Learning English is a goal for many people, whether for personal or professional reasons. But not everyone has the time, the money or the opportunity to take classes, hire a coach or travel to an English-speaking country. Does that mean you have to give up on your dream of speaking English fluently? Of course not! In this article, we will show you some tips and tricks to learn English by yourself, at your own pace and with the resources available online. But first, let me tell you my personal story.

My personal story with english

I am Régis-Marie, and I am the founder of We Rock Languages. I learned and mastered English completely by myself. I didn’t hire a coach, buy courses online or go abroad. I reached my current level (C1) in my country which is a french speaking country: Côte d’Ivoire. How did I do it? Well, I followed some of the methods that I am going to share with you in this article. And trust me, if I could do it, so can you!

Follow me on Threads for daily tips to improve your english

How to become fluent by yourself

Train yourself to speak as soon as possible.

Speaking is the most important skill when learning a language, but also the most challenging one. Many learners are afraid of making mistakes, having an accent or not being understood. But the only way to overcome these fears is to practice as much as you can. You can find online partners, join conversation groups, use apps or websites that connect you with native speakers, or even talk to yourself in front of a mirror. The key is to be consistent and confident.

Read in English.

Reading is a great way to improve your vocabulary, grammar and comprehension skills. You can read anything that interests you: books, magazines, blogs, news articles, etc. Try to choose materials that are adapted to your level and that have audio or visual support. You can also use tools like dictionaries, translators or glossaries to help you understand new words or expressions. Don’t worry about understanding everything: focus on the main idea and the context.

Create a learning routine.

Learning by yourself requires a lot of motivation and discipline. You need to set a schedule and stick to it. Decide how much time you can dedicate to learning English every day or every week, and what activities you want to do. For example, you can spend 15 minutes listening to a podcast, 30 minutes doing some grammar exercises, and 15 minutes reviewing some flashcards. You can also use apps or websites that track your progress and remind you of your goals.

Set realistic goals.

Learning English by yourself doesn’t mean learning it overnight. It takes time and effort to master a language. That’s why you need to set realistic and specific goals that will keep you motivated and focused. For example, instead of saying « I want to speak English fluently », say « I want to be able to order food in a restaurant in English ». You can also use the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) to assess your level and choose the appropriate learning materials.

Keep your personal goal in mind.

Why do you want to learn English by yourself? What is your ultimate purpose? Is it to travel, to work, to study, to communicate with someone, or just for fun? Whatever your reason is, keep it in mind and use it as a source of inspiration and motivation. You can also visualize yourself achieving your goal and imagine how it will make you feel. This will help you overcome the difficulties and challenges that you may encounter along the way.

Learn whole sentences.

Learning isolated words is not enough to speak English fluently.

You need to learn how to use them in context and in different situations. That’s why it’s better to learn whole sentences rather than individual words. For example, instead of learning « book », learn « I like reading books » or « Can I book a table for two? ». This will help you improve your grammar, pronunciation and communication skills.

Learn with music.

Music is a fun and effective way to learn English by yourself. You can listen to songs that you like or that are related to your interests, and try to understand the lyrics. You can also sing along, repeat the words or phrases, write them down or look them up if you don’t know them. Music will help you improve your listening skills, your vocabulary, your pronunciation and your intonation.

Get more

As you can see, learning English by yourself is possible if you have the right methods and resources. Of course, the feedback and guidance of a professional teacher or coach are useful but not compulsory. You can still make great progress on your own if you are determined and consistent.

If you want to learn more about how to learn English by yourself, join us for our webinar on 20th July. We will share with you more tips and tricks, answer your questions and show you how to use our online platform to learn English at your own pace and with the support of our qualified tutors. Don’t miss this opportunity and register now ! You can join us here.